Pennsylvania Statewide Poll - Commonwealth Foundation
Pennsylvania Statewide Poll - Commonwealth Foundation
Pennsylvania Statewide Poll - Commonwealth Foundation
Interview Schedule
1. Generally speaking, would you say that things in the country are going in the right direction, or
have they pretty seriously gotten off on the wrong track?
8% Not Sure
2. And, would you say that things in Pennsylvania are going in the right direction, or have they
pretty seriously gotten off on the wrong track?
Changing topics…
3. How concerned are you about the future availability of affordable energy in the United States...
4. And, how concerned are you about the future availability of affordable energy in Pennsylvania...
5. Over the past two years, would you say that your household energy bills have…
3% Not Sure
6. How concerned are you about your ability to afford your family's energy needs, including
energy to power and heat your home and fuel your vehicles...
7. When thinking about making lifestyle changes to protect the environment, which of the
following changes have you already made, or do you plan to make in your life? (Select All That
Apply)
64% Conserving energy by turning off lights, appliances, and electronics when not in use
58% Using reusable shopping bags
55% Recycling more frequently
54% Lowering the heating thermostat during the winter
46% Conserving water
35% Eliminating my use of single-use plastics, such as straws, utensils, and takeout
containers
34% Not using or reducing the use of air conditioning during the summer
22% Replacing my current home appliances with more energy efficient alternatives
19% Buying products from brands that prioritize sustainability
17% Reducing meat and dairy consumption
16% Planting more trees
13% Biking or walking instead of driving a gas-powered vehicle
10% Taking public transportation instead of driving
10% Volunteering for community cleanups
9% Purchasing an electric vehicle
8% Installing solar panels on my home
6% Paying more for green energy
9. Which of the following Presidential candidates do you believe would do the best job of making
energy more affordable for Americans?
10. When considering your support for a candidate for elected office, which is more important…
11. Please indicate whether you agree or disagree with the following statement:
The Pennsylvania government should focus on working with, and not against, the state's energy
providers to lower energy costs and protect the environment.
6% Not Sure
12. Do you support or oppose Pennsylvania building more natural gas pipelines to transport natural
gas to homes and businesses, ease the strain on our electrical grid, and reduce our state's
energy costs?
Below is a list of different types of energy production. For each, please indicate whether you believe the
state of Pennsylvania should enact policies to expand the production of that type of energy, scale back
production of that type of energy, or keep production of that type of energy at the current levels.
Keep
Expand Scale Back Production at Don’t Know
Production Production Current Levels Enough to Say
16. Solar
63% 9% 17% 11%
17. Wind
58% 14% 15% 14%
21. Hydroelectric
48% 7% 16% 29%
18. Oil
30% 29% 29% 13%
20. Hydrogen
28% 10% 17% 45%
15. Nuclear
28% 23% 21% 28%
19. Coal
20% 40% 24% 15%
Pennsylvania Statewide Survey Page 7 of 21
February 28 - March 6, 2024
22. How concerned are you about the reliability of the Pennsylvania electricity grid and the possibility
of blackouts...
23. Would you support or oppose a law requiring Pennsylvania electricity suppliers to increase the
use of alternative energy from 8% to 30% by 2030, even if it leads to higher energy costs for
consumers?
Now, as you may be aware, some elected officials have proposed using different tools to influence energy
production, such as government regulations, special tax breaks, and taxpayer-funded subsidies. Do you
support or oppose each of the following...
24. Government regulations on energy producers that will restrict the types of energy they can
produce.
43% 39% 14% 29% 19% 20% 18%
26. Tax breaks that promote the installation of renewable energy, like solar.
72% 17% 36% 36% 10% 7% 11%
27. Taxpayer-funded subsidies to create hydrogen hubs (networks of infrastructure that allow for the
production, storage, distribution, and transportation of hydrogen) in Pennsylvania as a clean
energy initiative.
49% 24% 16% 34% 15% 9% 27%
28. Which of the following statements comes closer to your personal views…
51% Pennsylvania policymakers should focus on cutting red tape to allow for the development
of the state's vast natural energy reserves, such as natural gas and oil, to reduce costs to
consumers.
...or...
49% Pennsylvania policymakers should subsidize renewable energy, such as solar and wind, to
prioritize protecting the environment.
Pennsylvania Statewide Survey Page 9 of 21
February 28 - March 6, 2024
29. Which TWO of the following would you say are the most pressing issues in Pennsylvania today
regarding energy and the environment?
8% Not Sure
Pennsylvania is one of the nation's most natural gas-rich states. Our government officials should
embrace this natural energy resource, not penalize it with burdensome and restrictive
government regulations.
31. Which of the following statements comes closest to your own opinion when thinking about
government regulation and oversight of Pennsylvania energy producers?
55% There is too much bureaucracy and red tape hindering energy production in the state and
driving up costs for consumers.
...or...
30% There are not enough government regulations to penalize energy companies for their
carbon emissions or to limit their energy production.
32. Several states and cities across the country are passing or considering legislation that bans or
limits natural gas appliances, such as stoves and furnaces, and gasoline-powered equipment such
as leaf blowers.
7% Strongly Support
19% Somewhat Support
19% Somewhat Oppose
39% Strongly Oppose
33. How likely are you to consider an electric vehicle the next time you purchase a vehicle...
9% Extremely Likely
9% Very Likely
20% Somewhat Likely
8% Not Sure
34. Which of the following is your greatest concern about purchasing an electric vehicle? (Select All
That Apply)
35. Would you support or oppose Pennsylvania following the actions of other states, like California,
that banned the sale of new gasoline-powered cars by 2035?
8% Strongly Support
14% Somewhat Support
18% Somewhat Oppose
50% Strongly Oppose
9% Undecided/Not Sure
36. Electric vehicle owners do not pay gasoline taxes that are used to maintain our roads and bridges.
Because electric car owners use our transportation infrastructure, some people have suggested
electric vehicle owners should be taxed to make up for the lost gas tax revenue.
Do you support or oppose imposing a tax on electric vehicle owners to compensate for lost gas
tax revenues used to maintain our roads?
37. During his campaign, Governor Shapiro promised to work with Democrats and Republicans in the
state legislature to reconsider the state's participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative
(RGGI), which would increase energy prices for Pennsylvanians. The Commonwealth Court
deemed RGGI unconstitutional, labeling it an "illegal tax," and subsequently blocked the initiative.
The governor has decided to appeal the court ruling.
Do you support or oppose RGGI, a program that would impose a new energy tax?
6% Strongly Support
15% Somewhat Support
18% Somewhat Oppose
36% Strongly Oppose
Asked Total
9% 4% Much More Likely to Support
11% 5% Somewhat More Likely to Support
29% 13% Somewhat Less Likely to Support
34% 16% Much Less Likely to Support
Skip Total
9% 4% Much More Likely to Support
10% 5% Somewhat More Likely to Support
28% 13% Somewhat Less Likely to Support
28% 13% Much Less Likely to Support
40. Do you support or oppose allowing Governor Shapiro to unilaterally impose new taxes without a
vote by your elected representatives in the legislature?
5% Strongly Support
8% Somewhat Support
20% Somewhat Oppose
55% Strongly Oppose
Changing topics… Please read a little more about a topic you may have heard about…
41. Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG) is a way of evaluating businesses beyond
the value they create for investors and customers, such as their ability to promote long-term
environmental sustainability and social responsibility as defined by social and political activists,
not businesses or investors.
Knowing that, which of the following statements comes closest to your own opinion about
state-managed investments?
68% State pension funds and 401ks should be invested to achieve the best returns for current
and future retirees.
...or...
15% State pension funds and 401ks should be invested only in companies adhering to socially
conscious ESG standards.
42. Which of the following should be a higher priority for the federal government…
43. How much money would you personally be willing to spend out of your own pocket each year to
help combat climate change? Please enter a specific dollar amount below.
5% $1 - $24
5% $25 - $99
13% $100 - $499
10% $500+
$151 MEAN
$0 MEDIAN
Pennsylvania Statewide Survey Page 15 of 21
February 28 - March 6, 2024
44. Which of the following statements comes closest to your personal views?
71% We should promote domestic energy production to ensure our nation has a reliable
energy supply, protect our national security interests, and provide American consumers
with available and affordable energy.
…or…
29% We should reduce domestic energy production. The government has an obligation to
protect our national resources and fight climate change.
45. How important do you think it is for the United States to achieve energy independence rather
than be reliant on foreign countries...
46. Do you support or oppose government efforts, like those proposed by the United Nations, to limit
individuals' meat and dairy consumption to reduce the climate impact of these industries?
7% Strongly Support
16% Somewhat Support
19% Somewhat Oppose
43% Strongly Oppose
47. Which of the following statements comes closest to your own opinion about energy and
environmental regulations?
35% Government energy regulations and oversight help protect the environment and bolster
consumer safety.
…or…
65% Excessive government red tape prevents energy production, drives up costs for
consumers, and has little environmental or safety benefits.
Changing topics...
48. President Joe Biden recently announced he is pausing the approval of new liquefied natural gas
(LNG) exports. Pennsylvania is the second largest natural gas-producing state. U.S. Senators Bob
Casey and John Fetterman have expressed concerns about the impact the president's decision
could have on Pennsylvania jobs.
Based on what you know, do you support or oppose President Biden's decision?
7% Strongly Support
17% Somewhat Support
19% Somewhat Oppose
35% Strongly Oppose
49. Please read the following two statements regarding the president's decision to pause the
approval of applications to export Liquefied Natural Gas and indicate which one comes closest to
your view...
37% It's time to update our export review framework to give greater weight to the effects of
Liquefied Natural Gas on climate change. This pause on new Liquefied Natural Gas
approvals sees the climate crisis for what it is: the existential threat of our time.
…or…
63% Liquefied Natural Gas exports support Pennsylvania jobs and help grow the economy. If
America blocks new exports, adversarial countries like Iran and Russia will fill the void.
Friendly countries that now buy from us may have no choice but to turn to Iran and
Russia, enriching those countries.
Pennsylvania Statewide Survey Page 17 of 21
February 28 - March 6, 2024
24% 18 - 34
16% 35 - 44
15% 45 - 54
17% 55 - 64
28% 65 AND ABOVE
48% Male
52% Female
* Identify some other way
35% Moderate
D4B. Are you registered to vote as a... a Republican, a Democrat, or something else?
D8A. Regardless of how you feel now, for whom did you vote in the 2020 Presidential election...
Total Voted
44% 47% Donald Trump
47% 50% Joe Biden
...or...
3% 3% Someone Else?
20% Urban
70% Suburban
10% Rural
GEO4. How would you describe the area in which you live?
1% Not Sure
C1. And, in which county in Pennsylvania do you currently live? (Media Market Totals)
42% PHILADELPHIA
21% PITTSBURGH
16% HARRISBURG-LANCASTER- LEBANON-YORK
11% WILKES BARRE-SCRANTON
5% JOHNSTOWN-ALTOONA- ST COLLEGE
5% TOTAL SMALL DMAS
3% Student
5% Stay at home parent
32% Retired
7% Unemployed and looking for work
10A. Are you, or is anyone in your household, a member of a labor union or a teachers’ union,
employed by the city, county, state, or federal government, including as a fire fighter or law
enforcement officer?
84% No
2% Not Sure
D17. Do you own your own home, rent a house or apartment, live with parents or relatives, live in a
home or apartment at which someone else pays the rent, or something else?
65% Own
28% Rent
6% Live with Parents or Relatives
1% Someone Else Pays
1% Something Else
* Not Sure
D9B. And for statistical purposes only, what is your total annual household income?
3% Refuse